These are the Words

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

A famous rebbe once stated that the opening phrase of the parashah, "These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel," is meant to teach that words of Torah should always be regarded as something new and exciting. "They should be new in your eyes every day," says Rashi. Ben Bag Bag says, "Turn it over, turn it over again, for everything is within it. Look into it and become gray haired and old in it." (m.Avot 5:22)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Devarim (דברים | Words)

Torah: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27

Gospel: Mark 14:1-16

The Land of Israel

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

"Command the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders.'" (Numbers 34:2)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Massei (מסעי | Journeys)

Torah: Numbers 33:1-36:13

Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4,4:1-2

Gospel: Matthew 24:1-25:46

Religion is a Two-edged Sword

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Religion is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, faith in God, trust in Messiah and obedience to God's commandments is the narrow path that leads to life. It brings peace, joy and purpose to existence. On the other hand, religious convictions can become a source of strife, enmity and hatred between people and nations.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Pinchas (פנחס | Phinehas)

Torah: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:46-19:21

Gospel: Mark 11:27-12:37

Life's Little Interruptions

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

If God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through anything and anyone. A person should always be attentive to the words of others, always listening for the voice of the LORD.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Balak (בלק | Balak)

Torah: Numbers 22:2-25:9

Haftarah: Micah 5:6-6:8

Gospel: Mark 11:12-26

Paul's phrase

Paul's phrase "speaking the truth in love" (Eph 4:15) is an allusion to Lev 19:17, 18 --

"You must not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your fellow directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but you shall love your fellow as yourself; I am YHWH."

1Cor 9 should not be taken to mean that Paul ate pork with his Greek constituents, while only kosher food with his Jewish compadres. Just as we're not authorized to sin in order to be culturally relevant, neither was he.

-Michael Millier

Aaron the Peacemaker

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Chukat (חוקת | Statute)

Torah: Numbers 19:1-22:1

Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-17

Three Offices of Messiah

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

But the LORD said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.” (Numbers 17:10)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Korach (קורח | Korah)

Torah: Numbers 16:1-18:32

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22

Gospel: Luke 18:35-19:28